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Sherlock Holmes is all the rage these days—from big-budget movies to fictional accounts starring the famed detective’s creator. So, as director Guy Ritchie puts the finishing touches on his sequel to his 2009 Sherlock Holmes adventure, author Michael Robertson releases the follow-up to his 2009 Holmes-themed mystery, The Baker Street Letters.
As The Brothers of Baker Street opens, London barrister Reggie Heath struggles with his loss of…well…everything. He’s practically penniless. Various members of his staff are dead. The love of his life, Laura, is dating a rich, pompous newspaper publisher, whose daily tabloid keeps publishing less-than-positive articles about Reggie (which isn’t exactly helping his failing law practice). Even his clueless but well-meaning brother, Nigel, has stayed behind in Los Angeles.
When Reggie finally gets a new case—working with a pretty young solicitor, no less—he jumps at the chance. He immediately goes to work trying to free the cab driver who’s been accused of murdering a couple of American tourists—and he gets some help from the most unlikely place. One of the Sherlock Holmes letters that his Baker Street office receives gives him an anonymous tip—but once Reggie uses it in his client’s case, he begins to wonder whether he’s been set up.
In his second novel featuring Reggie and Nigel Heath, Robertson once again keeps the focus on the characters. In fact, more than the crimes and mysteries, Reggie’s relationships and personal struggles make it an enjoyable read. As you get to know even more about Reggie, you’ll care about his struggling relationship with Laura—and about his dying law practice. You’ll worry about the bad press he’s getting—and about the way he handles himself in public (especially when the Daily Sun’s photographers are nearby). Even if you haven’t read The Baker Street Letters, you’ll soon find yourself caught up in the brothers’ story. Though the characters aren’t developed quite as well as they were in the first book in the series, they’re still the kind of characters that will keep you coming back and reading more.
The story, meanwhile, is an intriguing one, involving London’s famous Black Cabs and their hard-working drivers. And, this time, the story is pleasantly tangled into the Holmes theme—complete with a villain who claims Holmes nemesis Professor James Moriarty as a great-great-grandfather. Unfortunately, though, as in The Baker Street Letters, the plot is rather weak and inconsistent—and the conclusion isn’t particularly mind-blowing, either. But it’s still an easy-going and entertaining way to pass the time.
If you’re looking for an edge-of-your-seat kind of mystery that will keep you guessing until the last page, this isn’t it. But if you’re in the mood for a light mystery with characters you’ll care about, The Brothers of Baker Street is a good choice.
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